[Updated at 11:59 a.m. ET] Istanbul police identify the bomber as Ecevit Shanli, a member of DHKP-C, a Marxist-Leninist terror group.

[Updated at 9:19 a.m. ET] U.S. State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland issues a statement on the attack: "We can confirm a terrorist blast at a checkpoint on the perimeter of our embassy compound in Ankara, Turkey, at 1:13 p.m. local time. We are working closely with the Turkish national police to make a full assessment of the damage and the casualties, and to begin an investigation. We will share more information as it becomes available."

[Updated at 8:10 a.m. ET] The person killed in the bombing outside the U.S. embassy is a Turkish embassy guard, a senior U.S. official tells CNN. Two other people were wounded and neither is American, the official said.

[Updated at 7:38 a.m. ET] The blast happened shortly after 1 p.m. local time. The U.S. Embassy would normally be open for business at that hour, CNN's Ivan Watson reports.

[Updated at 7:31 a.m. ET] Video from the scene shows ambulances in the streets near the embassy. Security forces have closed off the area. U.S. officials have been unable to confirm details of the attack.

[Updated at 7:20 a.m. ET] Images from CNN sister network CNN Turk show a hole in a wall of a building across the street from the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey.

[Updated at 7:05 a.m. ET] One person was killed and two others were wounded by a suicide bomber who blew himself up outside the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, according to Ankara police.

[Posted at 6:45 a.m. ET] CNN is working to confirm reports of an explosion near the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey. Turkey's semi-official news agency Anadolu is reporting the blast. Ambulances arrived to pick up injured people, the report said.

PKK is a terrorist group just like Al Qaeda, recognized as such by US and EU. Why would you defend terrorists? Just like if there is a terrorist attack in the US, Al Qaeda comes to mind, naturally PKK comes to mind if it happens in Turkey. Stop being hypocrites with double standards.

Marek........don't totally disagree with you, but At least the PKK have a cause and goal which is well defined. As they say, one mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter. Turkey on the other hand seem to be heading down the path of Islam which leads us to wonder what their goals and aspirations are. By the way, I have no dog in that fight as they say.

Freedtoo – Well, Al Qaeda have a cause and goal which is well defined, too. PKK is okay but Al Qaeda is not? I hate double standarts, this is why this world is never going to be totally free of terrorism.

This is a very stupid mentallity. if you say a terrorist organisation fights for right cause then other people will find right to say al queda fights for right reason and some others may say mexico drug mafia fights for right cause, etc... this mentallity is the basic reason the world is overweelhmed by terror. you are helping terror more than a terrorist with a gun in hand. and dont forget that that terror might kil you or your children with a bomb when walking in a street for that right cause.

Don't you realize all the negative media that comes from the US? This should not be taken lightly. Meanwhile, our soldiers are doing saint-work and dying in vain because all the trash talk from the general public makes it impossible for the people of other countries to see the good we are doing.

No one likes being insulted. We've got a lot to make up for. And it's a shame because Americans are bad to each other. Just look at our society, we're not as civil as we think we are. It's unacceptable for us to allow these things to be said. We come off as hypocrites. Americans are hatemongers too. There is good and evil everywhere in the world. It's no different. Our problem is we don't watch our words. Negative comments only lead to more conflictâ€”which eventually leads up to catastrophe.

PKK is a terrorist organization recognized as such by the US and EU. They have a well-defined cause just like any other terrorist group. Stop being hypocrites with double standards. What you are doing is sympathizing with terrorists as long as they harm others and not you, then the rest of the world should do the same. With your logic, Turks should sympathize with Al Qaeda and stop helping Americans in their fight against it.

To blame the islam is the easiest way
why dont you just put your hands on your head and think twice.
I suggest you to follow up the current international issues in the world.
May be that gives you the answer.

We are religion of peace! This happens because of the politic view from US. They think that they can do everything in the world especially in Ä°slamic countries. We dont want you in our countries. You have to take your hands from middle east after than everything will be better than now.

If your blaming islam your a fool. In America when a crime is commited by a white male, it usually says they were mentally ill or disables etc. But when you hear about crimes like these you blame islam. Its foolish because these men who commit these crimes maybe mental as well. We really don't know why this happened. Honestly do we really know why these events happened or why we have made these people act out this way. Nobody bombs something for no reason. I do not support this act because i don't believen violence. Everybody is equal no matter your jewish, Muslim, sikh, Christian, Atheist or any other relgion. We are all one and if you are posting racism your just making a fool of yourself. If we all keep hating each other and blaming each other nothing is gonna get better. Nothing is real until experenced. We have not expierenced the lives of those in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey and so on. We cannot talk bold about this topic because we all do not knos. I would like to tell you islamphobic people to please end your hate and love everyone

My dear brother, Mo. It is not always Allah and the prophets. It can be the devil. There are two powers in the world, good and evil. Allah and the prophets will lead people on the right path. Allah will bless you when you do what is right.

Beware of the devil, who leads people on the wrong path. It is the devil who tempts you to hurt others. The devil who pays people to do evil things.

As stated in the Qu'ran, Allah and the prophets are not always there to protect us from the devil, we must all be vigilant to guard ourselves from evil.

My comment is meant to encourage people to think clearly. I wish to counter any possible confusion. It's important that people remain calm and do not jump to conclusions.

The greatest victim of terrorism is the Arabian people. They are the ones who suffer the most of all. To make a villain of Arabic people is unacceptable. There are good and evil people everywhere in the world. Arabian people are not our enemy. They are our friends. They fight alongside us to protect the people from evil.

We are a United Nation. But a truly united world starts with public people. We cannot allow the people to fool themselves into thinking they are enemies. The public people must open their hearts to each other.

I encourage you all to open your hearts. Please do not single any nation of people out. This is the result of evil. This is not the result of ethnicity.

Maybe if Obama gave more thought to his Middle Eastern policies instead of sitting for puff pieces on 60 Min and glamor shots at Vogue we wouldn't have so many dead Americans and chaos in the Middle East.

Turkish news reports are very different than CNN's. As of this point in time, the Hurriyet newspaper is reporting that 2 were killed, one being a security officer. Others are wounded, a woman is in serious condition. Right now the reports are saying that the bomb wasn't attached to anyone, but that the bomber sent it through the x-ray machine where it exploded. As of now it looks like the explosion occured at the visa entry section of the embassy, which is obviously a high traffic area with people who wait in long lines to get in. Thank god this happened in the afternoon.. (visas are processed in the morning). My guess is that this has absolutely nothing to do with Islam or rightests. As of late there have been many LEFTIST protests regarding America's external involvement in Syria and the installment of Patriot missles on the Turkish border. Every weekend the communists go past my workplace yelling "Yankee go home, or f*** off America".... In my opinion, this has to do with the Syrian issue. No matter who is responsible though, it is disgusting.

Muslims accuse ridiculous.However, the same state of ours, and our actions show it if something like that.Always and everywhere.No religion or nation, of course, such people should not depend on the movements so if you can give yourself and your nation or religion, have already dealt with?

I am even a Turkish origin citizen blame islamic sources for this terrorist attack even PKK is a terorist group that is not their target but as we always know dark muslims their minds working very different . Hate them

Al Queda means "THE DATA BASE".
It is a group or groups of people employed, paid and trained by the CIA.
The goal is to keep people in fear.
You can thank the American Military Industrial rich potentates
that want to control the world.
Seems to be working pretty well.

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